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KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Adron Chambers has watched his competition for the final outfield spot on the Cardinals bench get off to a hot start the first week of Grapefruit League action.

So he figured he had to do something to keep up.

Chambers fouled off several pitched before launching a three-run homer in the fifth inning and later made a great sliding catch near the wall in left to end the eighth inning in the Cardinals’ 8-8 spring training tie with the Houston Astros.

“I’m trying not to worry about it,” Chambers said of the competition. “I’m here battling. I’m just trying to go out there and word hard and hopefully something good comes out of it. “

Shane Robinson is 8-for-15 this spring and Justin Christian is 4-for-12. Oscar Taveras, deemed a long shot to make the roster, hit a grand slam Thursday. All have looked good in the field as well.

“It’s fun to tell you the truth because everybody is doing well,” Chambers said. “You know what I mean? That’s what makes it that much better, seeing all these guys do well. Shane is on a hot streak. Taveras hit a grand slam yesterday. I have to make sure I do my part so I can be in the competition.

“That’s the game of baseball and you have an organization like St. Louis where you have all kinds of great ballplayers, so it’s fun right now.”

Asked about his home run and the chances of showing more power this year, Chambers joked, “I don’t know, I might hit 30. It felt good. I put a nice swing on a nice pitch and it went out of the park.”